Brake device



vJuly31,192zs. I l y 1,678,692

A. DOMENICO BRAKE DEVICE l Filed July 18,4927 2 sneetpsheet INVENTOR ATTOR N EY which automatically locks to `rection but which may Patented i July 31, 1.928.

UNITED STATES ANTEQNY DoiuENIco, or

BRooxLYN, NEW Yonk..

BRAKE nnvcn.'

Application filed July 18,

IThis invention relates to improvements in brake devices.

The primary object of the invention re sides in a brake device for application to a rotatable part for automatically preventing accidental rotation of the part in one d1- be controlled for perniit-ting rotation in either direction'when desired.

Ano-ther object of the invention is ,to provide a brake device for automobiles in which the same is mounted on some rotatable driving part thereof, such as the -driven shaft, rear axle or the like, to freely permit rotation of the part in a forward direction but prevent rotation of the part in an opposite direction, such as for instance, when an automobile is ascending a hill and it becomes necessary to shift from high gearinto a lower gear.' Under such conditions, the device will auf tomatically operate to prevent backward movement of the automobile duringfthe interval of manually shift-ing the Oea-rs. c

Another object is to provide awake .device which is automatic and positive in its actions and simple in construction and operation. y

With these and other objects in view,the. invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement o parts, the essential`features ofwhich are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichz- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of an automobile trans. inissiongshowing my improved brake device in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3-8 0f Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a* perspective view of one of the brake elements with parts being shown in a separated condition.

Figure 5 is a detail verticalsectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. f

Referring more-particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates a drive shaft, and in the present instance,`l have chosen to illustrate my invention in connection withthe drive shaft of an automobile transmission 11 which includes a transmission housing 12, through which the drive shaft 11 extends and which drive 1927. semina. 2706354.

shaft is operativelyconnected to a driven part or shaft 13 by a universal joint 14. My improved brake device 15 is shown applied to the Adriveshaft adjacent the universal joint and is enclosed within the univer-v sal housingV 16. TheI transmission also includes the usual gear shifting shafts 17 and 18, the' shaft .18' being slightlylonger than the shaft 17 so as to extend slightly beyond the end ofthe .transmission housing when the saine'is in `a forward'gear position or neutral, but which is movable to a retracted position when the gearsvof the transmission are in reverse for a purpose to'be presently explained. The `gear shifting shaft 17 is actuated for moving Vthe gears of the transmission to either high or intermediate gear, while the gear4 shifting shaft 18 controls the movement of the gears to low and reverse positions.' Tliisshifting is well known in the art so that a detailed explanation of the same I is not believed necessary.

My improved brake device which is shown in its entirety as -at 15 comprises a rotor disk or body 19 vkeyed to the drive shaft 10 for rotation in a forward direction there' with as indicated b arrows in Figure 1 of the drawings. A ange 20 is provided on the inner periphery of the rotor against which a ring 21 is held by a removable plate 22 fixed to the opposite side'face of the rotor. The periphery of the rotor is provvided withlequidistantly spaced'recesses 23,

the inner periphery of the ring serving to enclose the outer open sides of the recesses for housing Fsteel balls or rollers v24.- The bottoms ofl the recesses are eccentric with iespect to the axisl of the shaft 10 to provide an enlarged portion 25 and a restricted portion 26,-. the balls beingnormally seated in fiat springs' 27, adjacent the enlarged p0rtions of the recesses due to the .tendency of the rotor to rotate inthe direction of the arrows. 4'

Pivoted within the -housing 16 as at 28 is a shoe.29 and which is curvedto fit the con tour of the'ring ,20. The shoe has a head 30 which extends upward through a slot 31. in

for guid-ingthe end of the shifting rod during its outward movement when. the shoe is in a lifted position.

For-the purpose of setting up ay brakin action between the shoe and the ring 30 during a reverse turning lmovement of the ring with the rotor when the balls 24 move to therestricted portion of their recesses, I

provide recesses 36 in the underside of the shoe and which are provided with an enlarged end 37 and a reduced or restricted 'end 38 for slidably receiving rollers 39 having trunnions 40 at opposite ends thereof for reception in slots 41 in the closedside of the recesses and in lthe cover plates 42 which are bolted to the outer face of the shoe for y closing the outer open sides of the recesses. A spring 43 is provided for yieldingly limiting movement of the rollers 39 toward the enlarged portion 37. of the recesses.

yIn operation, we shall presume that the transmission is in any position other than in reverse gear, at Which time the drive shaft 10 is rotating for imparting a forward driving movement to an automobile. Vhen in) this position, the shoe 29 is being held down upon the ring 20 by'reason of t-he extended gear shifting shaft 18, which seats upon the seat 34. As long as the shaft 10 rotates in a' direction to impart a forward driving movement to the part 13, the shaft is free to rotate asis the rotor 19 and ring 20 which only, frictionally engages the rotr. However, should an automobile be ascending a hill and it becomes necessary -to shift to a lower gear,

the brake device serves to prevent rearward movement of the automobile during the disengagement of the clutch and the gear shifting operation, for should the automobile start backward, a reverse turning movement will be imparted to the shaft '10 and rotor 19'causing" the balls 24' to jam against the innerjpe'riphery of the ring and lock the ring tor` the rotor. As" the ring begins to turn in a reverse direction, the rollers 39 of the shoe jam with the ring, thus locking the ring against further reverse movement. When locked, thedrive shaft cannot rotate in a reverse direction, therefor -backward movement of the automobile isl prevented.

Should it be desired to drive the automobile signature.

in a rearward direction, the gears are shifted to a reverse position at which time the gear shifting shaft 18 has moved inwardly and off the seat 34, whereupon the spring 33 lifts the shoe 29 away from the ring 20, at which time the ring and rotor may rotate in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrows without fear of the locking of the parts.

While I have shown my invention applied to the transmission of an automobile, I do not wish to limit myself thereto as it may be applied to other driven parts thereof if desired Witheut departing from the spirit of my invent-ion.

lVhat is claimed as new is i 1. In combination with a rotatable part, a rotor keyed thereto, a ring encircling said rotor, manually operated means for locking said ring against rotation in one direction, and automatic means for locking said rotor against movement with yrespect to said ring.

shoe in engagement with said ring, locking means carried by said shoe` andengaging said ring for locking the latter against rotation iii one direction, and automatic locking means between said rotor and said ring for locking the former against rotation in the same direction.

3. In combination with the transmission mechanism of an automobile having a driving shaftI and a gear shifting bar, a brake device including a rotor keyed to said driving shaft, a ring freely encircling said rotor, a shoe engageable with said ring and held in engagement therewith by said gear shifting bar when iii an extended position, locking means carried by said 'shoe andengaging Asaid ring for locking the latter against rota- 'tion in one direction, and automatic locking means between said rotor and said ring for locking the former against rotation in the same direction. Y

In testimony whereof Ihereby aHx` my ANTHoisiY'DoMENIoo. 

